US5022503A - Electrically actuated wheel hub clutch apparatus - Google Patents

Electrically actuated wheel hub clutch apparatus Download PDF

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Publication number
US5022503A
US5022503A US07/381,947 US38194789A US5022503A US 5022503 A US5022503 A US 5022503A US 38194789 A US38194789 A US 38194789A US 5022503 A US5022503 A US 5022503A
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US
United States
Prior art keywords
slip ring
brush
wheel hub
holder
brush holder
Prior art date
Legal status (The legal status is an assumption and is not a legal conclusion. Google has not performed a legal analysis and makes no representation as to the accuracy of the status listed.)
Expired - Fee Related
Application number
US07/381,947
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English (en)
Inventor
Hideaki Wakabayashi
Current Assignee (The listed assignees may be inaccurate. Google has not performed a legal analysis and makes no representation or warranty as to the accuracy of the list.)
Aisin Corp
Original Assignee
Aisin Seiki Co Ltd
Priority date (The priority date is an assumption and is not a legal conclusion. Google has not performed a legal analysis and makes no representation as to the accuracy of the date listed.)
Filing date
Publication date
Application filed by Aisin Seiki Co Ltd filed Critical Aisin Seiki Co Ltd
Assigned to AISIN SEIKI KABUSHIKI KAISHA reassignment AISIN SEIKI KABUSHIKI KAISHA ASSIGNMENT OF ASSIGNORS INTEREST. Assignors: WAKABAYASHI, HIDEAKI
Application granted granted Critical
Publication of US5022503A publication Critical patent/US5022503A/en
Anticipated expiration legal-status Critical
Expired - Fee Related legal-status Critical Current

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    • F—MECHANICAL ENGINEERING; LIGHTING; HEATING; WEAPONS; BLASTING
    • F16—ENGINEERING ELEMENTS AND UNITS; GENERAL MEASURES FOR PRODUCING AND MAINTAINING EFFECTIVE FUNCTIONING OF MACHINES OR INSTALLATIONS; THERMAL INSULATION IN GENERAL
    • F16D—COUPLINGS FOR TRANSMITTING ROTATION; CLUTCHES; BRAKES
    • F16D28/00—Electrically-actuated clutches
    • B—PERFORMING OPERATIONS; TRANSPORTING
    • B60—VEHICLES IN GENERAL
    • B60K—ARRANGEMENT OR MOUNTING OF PROPULSION UNITS OR OF TRANSMISSIONS IN VEHICLES; ARRANGEMENT OR MOUNTING OF PLURAL DIVERSE PRIME-MOVERS IN VEHICLES; AUXILIARY DRIVES FOR VEHICLES; INSTRUMENTATION OR DASHBOARDS FOR VEHICLES; ARRANGEMENTS IN CONNECTION WITH COOLING, AIR INTAKE, GAS EXHAUST OR FUEL SUPPLY OF PROPULSION UNITS IN VEHICLES
    • B60K17/00—Arrangement or mounting of transmissions in vehicles
    • B60K17/34—Arrangement or mounting of transmissions in vehicles for driving both front and rear wheels, e.g. four wheel drive vehicles
    • B60K17/348—Arrangement or mounting of transmissions in vehicles for driving both front and rear wheels, e.g. four wheel drive vehicles having differential means for driving one set of wheels, e.g. the front, at one speed and the other set, e.g. the rear, at a different speed
    • B60K17/35—Arrangement or mounting of transmissions in vehicles for driving both front and rear wheels, e.g. four wheel drive vehicles having differential means for driving one set of wheels, e.g. the front, at one speed and the other set, e.g. the rear, at a different speed including arrangements for suppressing or influencing the power transfer, e.g. viscous clutches
    • B60K17/3515—Arrangement or mounting of transmissions in vehicles for driving both front and rear wheels, e.g. four wheel drive vehicles having differential means for driving one set of wheels, e.g. the front, at one speed and the other set, e.g. the rear, at a different speed including arrangements for suppressing or influencing the power transfer, e.g. viscous clutches with a clutch adjacent to traction wheel, e.g. automatic wheel hub
    • F—MECHANICAL ENGINEERING; LIGHTING; HEATING; WEAPONS; BLASTING
    • F16—ENGINEERING ELEMENTS AND UNITS; GENERAL MEASURES FOR PRODUCING AND MAINTAINING EFFECTIVE FUNCTIONING OF MACHINES OR INSTALLATIONS; THERMAL INSULATION IN GENERAL
    • F16D—COUPLINGS FOR TRANSMITTING ROTATION; CLUTCHES; BRAKES
    • F16D11/00—Clutches in which the members have interengaging parts
    • F16D11/14—Clutches in which the members have interengaging parts with clutching members movable only axially

Definitions

  • This invention relates to an electrically actuated wheel hub clutch apparatus and more particularly to an electrically actuated wheel hub clutch apparatus for automobiles and other types of machines.
  • a conventional electric wheel hub clutch apparatus is disclosed in Japanese Utility Model Laid Open Publication No. 63(1988)-52626 published without examination on Apr. 8, 1988.
  • the clutch is adapted to convert from two-wheel drive to fourwheel drive by turning a switch. That clutch is shown in FIG. 5, herein where a wheel hub 19' is rotatably assembled on an outer peripheral surface of a stationary axle tube 14' by means of bearings 30', 31'.
  • a cylindrical body 1' is fixed to a cover 2' by a bolt 3'.
  • a ring 4' is fixed to an inside portion of the cylindrical body 1' by a plate 9' and a snap ring 5'.
  • An inner sleeve 6' which is rotated together with an axial shaft 8' is engaged with the snap ring 5a' and is rotatably supported by the ring 4'.
  • a cam surface 12b' is formed on the outer peripheral surface of a boss 12a' of a handle 12'.
  • a clutch member 7' is in contact with a cam follower 10' assembled in the boss 12a'.
  • the outer peripheral surface of the clutch member 7' and the inner peripheral surface of the cylindrical body 1' are axially and slidably attached by a spline-connection.
  • a tension spring 13' is provided, between the clutch member 7' and the cam follower 10' and a tension spring 11' is provided between the handle 12' and the cam follower 10'.
  • a motor 16' fixed in a lateral wall of the cylindrical body 1' has a shaft 16a' and a pinion gear 15' fixedly connected to a free end portion of the shaft member 16a'.
  • Gear teeth 12c' are provided on the outer peripheral surface of the handle 12' so as to engage with the pinion gear 15'.
  • a lock plate 32' is in spline-connection with the axle tube 14' and a lock nut 33' is connected to the lock plate 32' by means of a bolt 34'.
  • a pair of slip rings 35' are assembled on the outer periphery of the lock nut 32'.
  • An electric cord 36' is inserted in a throughhole 14a' formed in the axle tube 14'. One end of the electric cord 36' is connected to a terminal of the slip ring 35', and other end of the electric cord 36' is connected to a control box (not shown), an electric source (not shown), and a switch of a driver's seat in the automotive vehicle.
  • a brush case 37' is fixed to the wheel hub 19', and a pair of springs 38' are accommodated in the brush case 37'.
  • a pair of brushes 39' are connected to ends of the springs 38' and are biased against the slip rings 35'.
  • a convex terminal 16b' of the motor 16' is fixedly connected to a concave terminal 40' attached to
  • the lock plate 32' having the slip rings 35' is in spline-connection with the axle tube 14'.
  • the brush case 37' having the brushes 39' contacted with the slip rings 35' is assembled in the wheel hub 19'.
  • the lock plate 32' and the brush case 37' are separately provided so that the brushes 39' are influenced by the vibration of the condition of road surface through the wheel hub 19' and a wheel of the vehicle. Accordingly, there is the possibility that the brushes 39' may become shifted away from the contacting surface of the slip rings 35'.
  • the present invention provides a radial retainer which forms a part of either a brush holder or a slip ring holder and which radially overlaps the brush and its associated slip ring in order to resist axial dislodgement therebetween.
  • FIG. 1 is a longitudinal sectional view of a wheel hub clutch according to the present invention
  • FIG. 2 is a longitudinal sectional view similar to FIG. 1 taken along a plane angularly displaced from that along which FIG. 1 is taken;
  • FIG. 3 is a cross sectional view taken along the line 3--3 in FIG. 2;
  • FIG. 4 is a longitudinal sectional view through a brush holder and slip ring holder according to the present invention.
  • FIG. a longitudinal section view taken through a prior art wheel hub clutch apparatus.
  • a cylindrical body 1 is fixed by a bolt 3 to an external end of a wheel hub 19 which is rotatably installed on an external end of an axle tube 14.
  • a ring 4 is supportingly interposed between a plate 9 and a pair of snap rings 5, one of which snap rings is held by the cylindrical body 1 and the other of which is supported in the ring 4.
  • the plate 9 is rotatably supported on the outer periphery of an inner sleeve 6 adjacent the ends of a plurality of splines 6a on the sleeve 6.
  • the inner sleeve 6 rotates together with an axle shaft 8 and is rotatably supported by the ring 4.
  • a handle 12 is rotatably supported by a bush 17 fitted to a boss 2a of a cover 2 attached to the cylindrical body 1 by the bolt 3.
  • a cam surface 12b is formed on a circumference of a boss 12a of the handle 12.
  • a cam follower 10 bears against the outer periphery of the boss 12a of the handle 12, with a pawl 10a of the cam follower 10 impinging upon the cam surface 12.
  • a clutch member 7 is so provided as to impinge upon the cam follower 10.
  • the clutch member 7 is installed so that it is axially slidable between its outer peripheral surface and the inner peripheral surface of the cylindrical body 1 while being prevented from rotating relative to the body 1 by splines 1a on the body inner surface.
  • a tension spring 11 is attached to the cam follower 10 and the handle 12, and a tension spring 13 is attached to the follower 10 and the clutch member 7.
  • Splines 7a, 6a which are capable of engaging with each other, are provided on the inner peripheral surface of the clutch member 7 and on the outer peripheral surface of the inner sleeve 6, respectively.
  • a motor 16 including a shaft 16a is installed in the side wall of the body 1.
  • the free end of the shaft 16a is provided with a pinion gear 15.
  • Gear teeth 12c are provided on the outer periphery of the handle 12 so as to mesh with the pinion gear 15.
  • a lock plate 44 and a lock nut 42 are seated against the end surface of the bearing 31 with a view to preventing the bearings 31 from being removed therefrom.
  • the lock nut 42 is screwed to the axle tube 14; the lock plate 44 is spline-joined to the axle tube 14; and they are mutually joined by a bolt 43.
  • a pair of slip rings 41 are fixed to the outer periphery of the lock plate 44 through an insulating member 45, whereby the lock plate forms a slip ring holder.
  • the axle tube 14 is formed with a throughhole 14a in which an electric cord 36 is disposed.
  • One end of the electric cord 36 is connected to terminals of the slip rings 41 of the lock plate 44, and the other end thereof passes to a control box (not shown) within the car and is then branched off to an electric power source(not shown) and to a switch (not shown) in the proximity of the driver's seat.
  • a brush holder in the form of a case 47 including an integral wall 47a and plate 51, is axially supported by an arrangement comprising a spacer 49, a connecter 53 and a snap ring 50.
  • the spacer 49 and the snap ring 50 are adjacently disposed and mounted to the lock plate 44.
  • the brush case 47 is rotatable relative to the lock plate 44.
  • the connector 53 is received in a lug 51a of plate 51.
  • a radial inward projection portion 52 provided on the brush case 47 (FIG. 4) extends axially between a pair of brushes 46 disposed in the brush case 47 and between the slip rings 41, so that the brushes 46 may be supported with respect to the slip rings 41 only for rotational movement about the axle shaft 8 while in continuous contact with the slip rings 41.
  • the projection 52 radially overlaps the brushes and slip rings to prevent axial disengagement therebetween. This function is also performed by the portions 47a, 51 of the brush case 47.
  • the projection 52 and portions 47a, 51 constitute axial retainers for the brushes and slip rings.
  • radial outward projections could be provided on the insulating member 45 and extended radially outwardly for retaining the slip rings 41 and the brushes 46.
  • the brushes 46 are fitted to the ends of a pair of springs 48 to be biased against the slip rings 41. Other ends of the springs are connected to the connecter 53 by a flexible printed circuit 61 deposited on the plate 51 (FIG. 3).
  • a convex terminal of the motor 16 is designed to fit in a concave terminal of the brush case 47 when the cylindrical body 1 is fastened to the wheel hub 19, whereby the circuit extending from the motor 16 to the wheel hub 19 can be created by a one-touch operation.
  • the switch (not shown) is turned off, at which time the shaft 16a rotates to its original position and rotates the handle 12 in the direction opposite to the direction of rotation of the shaft 16a. Since the pawl 10a of the cam follower 10 is biased by spring 11 in the axial direction (to the right as viewed in FIG. 1) against the cam surface 12b of the handle 12, the cam follower 10 will be displaced to the right as the handle 12 rotates. However, the clutch member 7 will resist such movement, due to frictional contact with the sleeve 6 and resistance of spring 13. Accordingly, the pawl 10a comes to a stop just when the force of the tension spring 11 is equalized by the counter force of friction and the tension spring 13.
  • part 47a, 51, and the part 52 which parts radially overlap the brushes and slip rings, constitute retainers which prevent relative axial movement of the brushes relative to the slip rings. While those retainers have been depicted as connected to the brush case 47, they could, in the alternative, be connected to the structure holding the slip rings, e.g., the insulation 45. Such retainers also resist the influx of foreign matter such as dust between the brushes and slip rings. Such protection is easy to achieve during assemblage of the clutch apparatus.

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  • Engineering & Computer Science (AREA)
  • General Engineering & Computer Science (AREA)
  • Mechanical Engineering (AREA)
  • Physics & Mathematics (AREA)
  • Electromagnetism (AREA)
  • Chemical & Material Sciences (AREA)
  • Combustion & Propulsion (AREA)
  • Transportation (AREA)
  • Arrangement And Mounting Of Devices That Control Transmission Of Motive Force (AREA)
  • Connection Of Motors, Electrical Generators, Mechanical Devices, And The Like (AREA)
US07/381,947 1988-07-29 1989-07-19 Electrically actuated wheel hub clutch apparatus Expired - Fee Related US5022503A (en)

Applications Claiming Priority (2)

Application Number Priority Date Filing Date Title
JP63-099770[U] 1988-07-29
JP1988099770U JPH0629908Y2 (ja) 1988-07-29 1988-07-29 電流伝達機構

Publications (1)

Publication Number Publication Date
US5022503A true US5022503A (en) 1991-06-11

Family

ID=14256204

Family Applications (1)

Application Number Title Priority Date Filing Date
US07/381,947 Expired - Fee Related US5022503A (en) 1988-07-29 1989-07-19 Electrically actuated wheel hub clutch apparatus

Country Status (3)

Country Link
US (1) US5022503A (en, 2012)
JP (1) JPH0629908Y2 (en, 2012)
AU (1) AU627202B2 (en, 2012)

Cited By (3)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
US6561939B1 (en) * 2001-11-06 2003-05-13 Torque-Traction Technologies, Inc. Gear module for clutch actuator in differential assembly
US20120253577A1 (en) * 2009-12-17 2012-10-04 Peugeot Citroen Automobiles Sa Method for Disconnecting an Electrical Machine on a Running Gear of a Vehicle, in Particular a Hybrid Motor Vehicle
US20190016446A1 (en) * 2015-07-26 2019-01-17 Borealis Technical Limited Powered Clutch for Aircraft Wheel Drive System

Families Citing this family (2)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
US9297424B2 (en) * 2014-04-03 2016-03-29 GM Global Technology Operations LLC Driveshaft assembly with torque control mechanism
CN107939859B (zh) * 2017-10-23 2023-10-31 四川大学 一种新型的超声离合器

Citations (5)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
US682898A (en) * 1900-10-22 1901-09-17 Charles De Witt Anderson Dynamo-electric machine.
US3123169A (en) * 1964-03-03 Four wheel drive vehicle with automatic wheel
US4534455A (en) * 1982-08-26 1985-08-13 Aisin Seiki Kabushiki Kaisha Wheel hub clutch assembly
US4694943A (en) * 1986-01-21 1987-09-22 Boulder 12 Investments Ground clutch assembly with dynamic engagement and disengagement
US4776441A (en) * 1985-12-18 1988-10-11 Aisin Seiki Kabushiki Kaisha Free wheel hub clutch device

Patent Citations (5)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
US3123169A (en) * 1964-03-03 Four wheel drive vehicle with automatic wheel
US682898A (en) * 1900-10-22 1901-09-17 Charles De Witt Anderson Dynamo-electric machine.
US4534455A (en) * 1982-08-26 1985-08-13 Aisin Seiki Kabushiki Kaisha Wheel hub clutch assembly
US4776441A (en) * 1985-12-18 1988-10-11 Aisin Seiki Kabushiki Kaisha Free wheel hub clutch device
US4694943A (en) * 1986-01-21 1987-09-22 Boulder 12 Investments Ground clutch assembly with dynamic engagement and disengagement

Cited By (5)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
US6561939B1 (en) * 2001-11-06 2003-05-13 Torque-Traction Technologies, Inc. Gear module for clutch actuator in differential assembly
US20120253577A1 (en) * 2009-12-17 2012-10-04 Peugeot Citroen Automobiles Sa Method for Disconnecting an Electrical Machine on a Running Gear of a Vehicle, in Particular a Hybrid Motor Vehicle
US9037326B2 (en) * 2009-12-17 2015-05-19 Peugeot Citroen Automobiles Sa Method for disconnecting an electrical machine on a running gear of a vehicle, in particular a hybrid motor vehicle
US20190016446A1 (en) * 2015-07-26 2019-01-17 Borealis Technical Limited Powered Clutch for Aircraft Wheel Drive System
US10974820B2 (en) * 2015-07-26 2021-04-13 Borealis Technical Limited Powered clutch for aircraft wheel drive system

Also Published As

Publication number Publication date
AU627202B2 (en) 1992-08-20
JPH0629908Y2 (ja) 1994-08-10
JPH0222593U (en, 2012) 1990-02-15
AU3889489A (en) 1990-02-01

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AS Assignment

Owner name: AISIN SEIKI KABUSHIKI KAISHA, JAPAN

Free format text: ASSIGNMENT OF ASSIGNORS INTEREST.;ASSIGNOR:WAKABAYASHI, HIDEAKI;REEL/FRAME:005152/0680

Effective date: 19890829

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Year of fee payment: 8

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LAPS Lapse for failure to pay maintenance fees
STCH Information on status: patent discontinuation

Free format text: PATENT EXPIRED DUE TO NONPAYMENT OF MAINTENANCE FEES UNDER 37 CFR 1.362

FP Lapsed due to failure to pay maintenance fee

Effective date: 20030611